Large quantities of pumice stones ejected by the underwater volcano Fukutoku-Okanoba in the Ogasawara Islands have been washing up on the shores of Japan, especially on the Okinawan and Amami Islands, presenting society with a large problem. The author, who conducts research on predicting ocean currents at JAMSTEC, is following their whereabouts by overseeing the calculations for predicting where the stones will wash ashore.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a new report predicting that if current trends continue, extreme weather events will increase in frequency and intensity globally, and sea levels will rise 3-7 meters by 2300. Limiting the temperature increase to 1.5°C is also vitally important from the perspective of ocean impacts. The latest scientific knowledge reveals that bold action is needed to substantially curtail emissions within the next 10 years.

Being a public health nurse means supporting the wishes of people who want to live a lifestyle that suits them, wherever in Japan they may be, from the perspective of health. This article discusses the roles public health nurses working on remote islands are expected to play, as well as the challenges which can occur on the job and hints for their solutions. It would be highly appreciated if those with public health nursing licenses who are considering looking for jobs or relocating would add “remote island nursing” to their list of options.